Japanese disasters hit UK car production

Honda says it's cutting production at its Swindon plant, in southern England, by 50% from next week, as it grapples with抓住 shortages短缺 of key components關鍵部件 from Japan. 

Wide swathes大部件 of Japanese industry are working at well below full capacity due to power shortages, following the nuclear accident at Fukushima. The earthquake and tsunami devastated蹂躪 a region that's home to some key parts suppliers to the motor and electronics industries. The effect is being felt in the supply chains供應鏈 of many companies around the world, not just Japanese ones, that rely on依靠 Japanese made components. 

The problem's been exacerbated加劇 by the prevalence of患病率 so-called 'just-in-time' production systems, where manufacturers製造商 don't keep large stockpiles庫存 of parts on-site. Instead, they rely on timely deliveries made just before the parts are needed, more efficient when things are going well, but prone to 易發生 disruption if the parts don't arrive on time.

Mark Gregory, BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/04/110406_witn_hondaswindon_page.shtml